Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP)

Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP): How It Works in 2026
The Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) is Ontario’s provincial nomination program under Canada’s Provincial Nominee Program system. Ontario closed all eight of its former OINP streams on May 30, 2026, and replaced them on June 26, 2026 with a single new stream called Ontario Workforce Priority. It covers three pathways: skilled workers (TEER 0–3), essential workers (TEER 4–5), and self-employed physicians. A successful nomination adds 600 points to a candidate’s Express Entry CRS score, or supports a direct paper-based application outside Express Entry.

Searched for an Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program hoping to find the Human Capital Priorities stream or the Masters Graduate stream? Here’s the short version: those streams don’t exist anymore. Ontario rebuilt the OINP from the ground up in mid-2026. This guide covers how the program works right now. It also covers what changed, and what it means for your Ontario PNP plans.

What Is the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program?

The OINP is Ontario’s arm of Canada’s Provincial Nominee Program system. Each province gets an annual allocation of nominations from the federal government. Ontario uses its share to nominate skilled workers, graduates, and business people for permanent residence. A provincial nomination sends a strong signal to the federal government: this candidate can fill a real need here.

Most OINP streams work one of two ways. Some are aligned with Express Entry. A nomination adds 600 points to your CRS score, which in practice guarantees an invitation in a future federal round. Others work outside Express Entry entirely. You apply for a provincial nomination certificate first, then apply for permanent residence directly, no Express Entry profile needed.

Major Update: Ontario Redesigned the OINP in 2026

This is the part most guides online haven’t caught up with yet. Ontario closed its previous OINP streams on May 30, 2026. Nine streams stopped taking new applications that day: Human Capital Priorities, the Foreign Worker stream, the International Student stream, the In-Demand Skills stream, Masters Graduate, PhD Graduate, French-Speaking Skilled Worker, Skilled Trades, and Entrepreneur.

On June 26, 2026, Ontario launched Phase 1 of its redesign: a new stream called Ontario Workforce Priority. It replaces the closed streams as the main path for employer-driven nominations. A second phase should add Priority Healthcare, Exceptional Talent, and Entrepreneur pathways. It hasn’t launched yet, and there’s no confirmed date.

The Ontario Workforce Priority Stream: Three Pathways

The new stream is built around a job you already have lined up in Ontario. It’s not a points grid tied to a specific occupation list. There are three pathways:

• Skilled workers (TEER 0–3). A full-time, permanent job offer in Ontario, in a higher-skilled occupation.
• Essential workers (TEER 4–5). A full-time, permanent job offer in a lower-skilled occupation the province says is hard to fill.
• Self-employed physicians. The only pathway with no job offer needed. You must be in good standing with the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario, hold a valid certificate of registration, and be eligible to bill through OHIP.

Employers must register with the OINP Director before a candidate can apply. Ontario also sets revenue thresholds for sponsoring employers. These run higher in the Greater Toronto Area than elsewhere, with lower thresholds for rural employers.

How an OINP Nomination Works With Express Entry

Some Ontario PNP pathways run through the federal Express Entry system. Say you already have an Express Entry profile, and Ontario nominates you through an aligned stream. Your CRS score jumps by 600 points. That typically clears any general draw cutoff. Other Ontario PNP pathways sit entirely outside Express Entry. You apply for a nomination certificate directly through Ontario, then apply for permanent residence as a second, separate step. Which route applies to you depends on the specific pathway and your current status.

If You Applied Before the Redesign

Ontario is grandfathering existing applications. Submitted a complete application before your stream closed? It’s still assessed under the old rules. Had an Expression of Interest profile that hadn’t received an invitation yet? That profile was withdrawn automatically when the old streams closed. You’ll need a new one once Ontario Workforce Priority reopens.

Who Should Consider the Ontario PNP Right Now

• Workers with a solid Ontario job offer. If your employer will register with the OINP Director, the skilled or essential worker pathway is likely your clearest route.
• Physicians building a practice in Ontario. The self-employed physician pathway is the only route that skips the job offer requirement.
• Candidates who lost an EOI in the transition. Check whether you’ll qualify under the new rules before the EOI system reopens.
• Anyone weighing Ontario against another province. Every province runs its own PNP with its own rules. Ontario’s redesign may change which one fits you best.

Common Mistakes During the OINP Transition

• Applying based on outdated information. A lot of content online still describes streams that no longer exist. Confirm current requirements before you act.
• Assuming a withdrawn EOI can be reinstated. It can’t. You’ll need to submit a new one once the system reopens.
• Missing the employer registration step. Without it, an application can’t move forward, even with a real job offer in hand.
• Waiting on Phase 2 streams that haven’t launched. Priority Healthcare, Exceptional Talent, and Entrepreneur pathways are proposed, not active. Don’t build a timeline around them yet.

How Mandall Immigration Law Can Help

Mandall Immigration Law has offices in Toronto and Ottawa. We help clients across Ontario weigh their options under both Express Entry and the Provincial Nominee Program. Founder Austin Mandall Rooplall and our associate lawyers stay current on changes like this one. That matters more than usual right now, given how recently the OINP rules shifted. A consultation includes a review of your job offer, occupation, and status against the live requirements, not a checklist from a few months ago.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program still accepting applications?

Ontario Workforce Priority is live as the primary stream. Its Expression of Interest system closed for a period after the June 2026 relaunch, and is expected to reopen later in the summer. Applications already submitted under the former streams keep processing. Confirm the current intake status before assuming either way.

What happened to the OINP Human Capital Priorities stream?

It closed for good on May 30, 2026, along with seven other former streams. No further invitations are being issued under it. Looking for a similar pathway? Check the skilled worker track under Ontario Workforce Priority instead.

Do I need a job offer for Ontario PNP?

For two of the three Ontario Workforce Priority pathways, yes. You need a full-time, permanent Ontario job offer. The only exception is the self-employed physician pathway.

How many points does an OINP nomination add to my CRS score?

600 points, for Express Entry-aligned nominations. That’s usually enough to clear a general Express Entry draw in the next round.

Can I still apply if my old OINP stream was closed?

Not under the old stream. Already submitted? It continues under the old rules. Not submitted? Check whether you qualify under Ontario Workforce Priority once its Expression of Interest system reopens.

Explore Related Immigration Topics

The Ontario PNP is just one route to permanent residence. These related pages cover other programs and locations we serve across Ontario:

Book a Free OINP Consultation

Whether your old stream closed, your EOI was withdrawn, or you’re starting from scratch, Mandall Immigration Law can review where you actually stand under the new rules.